PHIL 3H03 - Philosophy of Religion Fall - 2011

Instructor: Office: Office Hour: Contact: Dr. Stefan Rodde TBA TBA roddesw@mcmaster.ca

Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the philosophy of religion. We will examine a number of themes, but the focus will be on issues surrounding divine action and life after death. Among the themes we will explore are: The nature of omnipotence The problem of evil Science and miracles The nature of the soul The problem of immortality Through an examination of both classical and contemporary readings our goal will be to critically engage some of the issues which fall under these themes

Course Objectives:
To understand some of the issues which arise in the philosophy of religion To study some of the positions which have been taken on those issues To work out and defend a reasonable position on those issues

Text:
Philosophy of Religion, 3rd Edition. Edit. By Michael Peterson, et al. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Evaluation:
Reflective Summaries (2). . . . .20% Roundtable Discussion . . . .. . .10% Essay Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5% Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35% Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30%

Reflective Summaries:
Students are required to complete two reflective summaries. Each reflective summary should be 1000-1500 words in length, and has two parts. The summary should bring out the most important points in the reading. The reflection should address an interpretive or evaluative issue raised by that reading.

Roundtable Discussion:
Every student will take part in two roundtable discussions. Each discussion will focus on a particular article. The roundtable discussions will involve ten students in two tiers (five students per tier). Tier-1 students will be those who have written a reflective summary on the reading. Each Tier-1 student will briefly outline their reflection, and respond to questions or comments from the other students. Tier-2 students are expected to read the article and take part in the discussion, but they do not present a reflection on the reading. Your grade will be based on your performance during the roundtable discussion, with half for how well you present your reflection and respond to questions, and the other half for how well you question or comment on the other papers. Tier-2 students are not graded. However, if they miss the discussion without a legitimate excuse, they will be heavily penalized.

Essays and Essay Proposal:

You are free to write an essay on any topic connected to the material studied in this course. Before writing this essay you are required to submit an essay proposal. Among the things you should include in this proposal are: A paragraph or two of background explaining why the issue is worth investigating A formulation of your issue or question A tentative statement of procedure A preliminary bibliography The date by which you plan to submit your essay The essay proposal is due in class on October 2. The proposal will be evaluated in terms of its quality. You may re-submit the proposal as often as you like. If your proposal is accepted but you later decide to do something significantly different, you must first discuss it with me. Your proposal (along with my comments) must be included when you submit your essay On your proposal you must include a submission date. You are free to change the submission date as often as you like provided you let me know before that date arrives. The final due date for essays is November 20. Your essay should be not more than 2500 words except with special permission. Your mark will be based on a general impression of its quality. Among the factors which determine this mark are: How interestingly and clearly you present the issue How carefully and accurately you develop the position The extent to which you use primary sources to support your claims How much the essay reflects your own thinking How significant and insightful your position is How clearly and coherently you write How convincingly you make a case for your position How correctly you spell, punctuate and compose sentences Your essay will be returned with a grade and comments.

Final Exam:
The final exam deals with all of the material covered in the course. The date will be determined by the Registrar

Additional Details:
This course outline is subject to change. I shall announce any changes in class and post the information on Avenue. If you are not present, you are responsible for finding out what I announce. In accordance with McMaster policy, all email messages sent to instructors must originate from a McMaster email account. At the end of term you will be asked to complete a course evaluation. These evaluations are taken seriously. They enable me to improve the course design, and they figure prominently in the evaluation of instructors. Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g., the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university. It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/senate/academic/ac integrity.htm. The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty: (i) plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not ones own or for which other credit has been obtained; (ii) improper collaboration in group work; (iii) copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.